Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1887-01-25
A SURGICAL OPERATION FOR
PIANO PLAYERS.

The siill Of well known physician
In this city has come TO ih, rescue OF =
number Of pisnIs,s and musical students
in a most singular and interesting psf'ic :
ulsr. The facts have just been made
III. subjse, Of . pspsr read before the
County Medical Society. To comprehend
this assistance rendered BY surgical sei.
enos 10 musicians. . very well.kno- TACT
mus, be understood. When the middle
finger and the little finger are brought
down by the hsIor muscles. and ihsn
ends are held down sgsinsi the keys Of
piano. for the purpose Of predicting con-
iinuous sounds. and IL 10 necessary to en-
tend and then fl,x or bend the third I'M
ger. In order 10 produce accompanying
sounds. IL will be found ,hA, the third
finger eanno, be very effectively used IN.
le,s after long aud eonstan, practice, and
often no, then.
The reason for this Stiffness Is simple
The tsndons Of the little and middle IN.
ger. ar, connected with the tendons OF
the third finger by lateral or sees''or,
,endons. 90 that when the too former
fingers are held down the t-o accessory
,endons hold In check the power OF the
muscular fbres acting upon the tendon
Of the third finger. ard thus Il can be bal
elum,ily used. Such accessory 'endon'
ars sometime. found IN Doe hsnd. some
time. IN the other. ba, usually Ia The
rsh, hand. They are source OF serious
annoyance aud difficulty 10 musical per-
formers.
DR.. William $. Forbes. the Demon
nra,or Of Anatomy In Jefferson College
has found means Of overcoming these
diaieuliis. in I. very simple bu, ingenious
manner.
lie says. ~ few yesp ago q young
musician. and q performer on the PisSo'
consulted me In regard 10 bis Inability "a
III, up, a. he expressed IL, the ring hnss'
Of hi. ngh, hand While the middle and
little finger. n,ishboring we're held htsd
on the ksy. q bic piano. Thi. res''ie'
ton did no, exist In the ring hngef ol
hi. LEI, hand Nth !, be bad no trouble
Is,plained 90 him the pr,seree Of the se'
es..ory tendon. in hi, rish, hand with
their restricting power. and told bin o.
their probabls absence In hi. lsfi.
The doctor then proceeds 70 give ~
elaborate and isehiesl account Of hos
he performed an operation ,hA, severed
or cut of the accessory isndons from ih'
little and middle finger. The Liberation
Of the ring 6sg,r "a. complete. The bal
Of the Gug,r could be elevated an inch
further from the plane Of the hand. acc
the patient expressed bis Qualification a
the extended aud grs., facility With ~hiei
he could use ,hi. rins hnser on the seJ'
Of hi. piano.
Referring TO the complete success. Of
the operation. Dr.. Forb.. say. 81 have
divided these accessory tendon. for the
purpose Of libers,ins the ring hnger 10
fourteen p,ron'. and Ia nine OF these
the operation "a. performed on the ten
don. Of both hand. At one sitting. ! DO
no, ,hink a, any one Of these operations
half dram Of blood was lost In 90, ons
Of them did any accident fellow the OPP
sra,ion. The issue in all Of them ~s'
successful. In two persons -ho came to
my office together. strangers from . dis
,anes. performed this operation on the
two hand. Of each Of them ia the presence
Of my friend. DR. Addinsll Hsw'on. Jr'
These i-o patient, 'aid With emphasis
,ha, there Va. no, only relief. In using
the ring finger. ba, there was also an ABB
.enee Of eisr,ion. which before the OPP
sr.iion vas oon.,.n, aud fcrcibls alons
the back cf the forearm and hand. -
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